flight paths discussion

Sometimes it seems as if the whole world is unravelling.
Are we to just grin and bear it?
Can we read our way out of this?

I don't know but I find some relief in fiction and faith in poetry. I think that reading preserves our ability to think and live independently and to keep the flame of love and freedom alive.

It does feel like the world is unravelling. Part of me wants to fight and be strong and part of me wants to hide under the covers and read books. I think it'll take a balance of both.

@Magdelanye, you're right about Women Who Run With the Wolves: Myths and Stories of the Wild Woman Archetype, it's not a book to read on my commute. I'm going to return it to the library and buy a copy and hopefully get some time in this summer to get big chunks of reading time in.

I'm reading about those who are less fortunate than us - they met their demise on a mountain in 1959! :) Mountain of the Dead: The Dyatlov Pass Incident I'm reading with a friend... seems like a conspiracy theory book in a way but right now I am in the chapter where the author refutes all the conspiracy theories about their deaths. I suspect the remaining chapters will be exploring a new theory but not sure yet.

Book club tonight! Super excited...it's my happy place. We read I'll Be Your Blue Sky... not my favourite book but very light/easy to read. Kind of like a Nancy Drew historical fiction with a side of romance.

Hope you are all well.

@Shannon, every time I see a book advertised as a New York Times best seller I'm pretty cautious, the general public and I have different reading tastes. ha!
Have fun at book club. :)

Happy Friday!
I am reading Borderliners that is an odd almost philosophical treatment of time, and its lack, using the orphanage system in Denmark as a backdrop. It starts with 3 kids, 2 boys and a girl and their growing awareness that something is odd in this school. The school is a private fee school but the fee paying kids are not coming to school anymore, but orphans and troubled kids are being accepted. It is not sci-fi but a hyper realistic look at how kids have no spare time until time itself becomes something mysterious. I am only a third into and find it compelling reading, even though there is not much that happens.

@Megan - what's the matter - don't like Danielle Steele and John "Mr. I sell my name to ghost writers" Patterson? hahaha! :) Agree!

oh lord, anytime anyone recommends those books to me it's all I can do to not have my eyes roll into the back of my head! :)

It's hilarious. Any time people want to hook me up, they're all "You like to read so you'll love him" and it's always someone like Patterson. And we never have anything to talk about!

Ellie said: reading preserves our ability to think and live independently and to keep the flame of love and freedom alive.

And Megan said
Part of me wants to fight and be strong and part of me wants to hide under the covers and read books.

That sums up my feelings as well and why is it so hard to find the balance?

As for good old JP, i have had the occassional guilty twinge when i realize i am judging him without ever reading a page. However, i am confident that we are right and that there is something odd about a book dubbed a bestseller on its release and the whole bs list, which is relentlessly marketed and generally schlock.
And LOL Ellie I have had those surreal experiences when its obvious that a love of books is too wide a category to assume an overlap in what kinds of books...can be very awkward

One more thing MaryAnne i noticed you are reading Borderliners. I have had that book for years and its a pity its buried in storage. I also noted very mixed reviews. Let us know how you find it. I loved SSS.
And Shannon, it seems to me that the 2 books you mention couldn't be more different. That ski trip sounds like a creepfest. How was the bookclub? Ill be your blue sky does sound rather over the top.

Oh and i am reading Beirut Hellfire Society.
Its gripping and gruelling as i thought it might be.
But the sun is shining and i must be grateful no one is bombing us, not even the weather.

Magdelayne - I do not understand your love of SSS? It is Friday and my brain goes on holiday.

Smilas Sense of Snow by Peter Hoeg who wrote Borderliners if im not mistaken

yes - yes - SSS - Smilla's Sense of Snow - yes he wrote it. Peter Hoeg seems like a very interesting person. I want to also read The Woman and the Ape.

Magdelanye wrote: "Ellie said: reading preserves our ability to think and live independently and to keep the flame of love and freedom alive.

And Megan said
Part of me wants to fight and be strong and part of me wa..."

For me, achieving balance in anything is the biggest challenge I face. On the one hand, I love my passion but on the other I can really distort my life when I let myself become consumed for too long in some aspect. Of course, the question is always how long is too long?

Mary Anne wrote: "yes - yes - SSS - Smilla's Sense of Snow - yes he wrote it. Peter Hoeg seems like a very interesting person. I want to also read The Woman and the Ape."

I loved Smilla's Sense of Snow. I didn't like The Woman and the Ape quite as much but it is very interesting. Peter Hoeg is always interesting. I am intrigued by how his mind works.

Honestly I find life right now exhausting. I also realize it’s very white privilege of me to be able to take a break from life. If I was a woman of colour there would be no breaks from racism, misogyny and oppression.

So that all being said, this weekend is spent reading (it’s -35 today) and going to the new earth expo where I hope to find some new crystals and network with different health practitioners. This weather is really hard on my fibromyalgia my hands hurt so much I can hardly hold a book.

Megan wrote: "Honestly I find life right now exhausting. I also realize it’s very white privilege of me to be able to take a break from life. If I was a woman of colour there would be no breaks from racism, miso..."

I'm sorry life is so difficult right now and that you are in pain. I also often feel I have no right to my pain given all my privilege but I think that we honor our pain without making it special or different, we are also honoring the pain of others. Of course, it helps to keep the perspective of what other people are going through.

I hope you feel better and that you find help at the expo.

Megan, I'm sorry to hear of your pain. I do hope you find a help at the expo.
Your weather has been brutal. It would be nice if winter loosened it's grip.

Finding balance in life is difficult. I struggle with that.
Like Ellie, I get passionate about my interests and if I'm not careful one or the other will overpower my days until I come up for air.

There are so many important aspects of Life to keep in mind for that balance: financial, emotional, physical and home being just a few.

The best we can do is to keep trying and adjusting as our current lives allow.

@Megan - Pain is a terrible thing to have. It leaves us feelling we have no control.
Have you tried muscle-testing (or pendulum use) to see if you are allergic to food or substances in your environment. I realized after a few years of misery and trial and error that I can only eat organic vegan food to be more or less pain free. I use a pendulum when shopping to determine what I will buy as labels can mislead.

@Mary Ann, I JUST learned how to muscle test a couple weeks ago and I’m shocked at how many supplements/foods I thought were good for me my body was not happy with. It’s fascinating and I’m hoping now my body will start to heal.
I haven’t tried a pendulum, I’m putting that next on my list. Thank you!!

Grinning and "Bearing" up in March.
Most seasonal book tokens spent and the real (as opposed to virtual) tbr pile is reaching out towards the ceiling. I think the path before me is medieval England, modern day Shetland and then Norway, all of it murder mystery ...... but lurking near the base of the pillar is a dose of Tolkien (1st / 2nd generation),The Story of Kullervo.

Good to hear from you Ice. What is a "seasonal book token"? Sounds like a good thing.

I haven't read a murder mystery in a long time. All your places make me nostalgic. Especially medieval England and Norway. What titles are you reading that are set in those place?

Anyway, welcome. It's always good to hear from you.

Good morning!
Mammogram happening today. Afterwards I'm going to a park close to the clinic for a run. I feel a bit weird going to a medical appointment dressed in my running clothes.

Ice, I'd also like to hear your titles and what a seasonal book token is. Sounds like a fun pile of books you've accumulated.

I'm still reading Red Mars. It's a very good read. It has (understandable) science and a good story.

Enjoy the day! May the sun shine on all of us.

Petra, good luck with your appointment tomorrow. Mammograms always make me so nervous. (I just had one and it was fine). I looked up Red Mars--it looks interesting.

I'm consumed by Tara Brach. I've been using her meditations and find them very powerful.

There was a forecast of a huge storm which did not materialize but we got a day off from work. This has been a lovely day of reading and meditation and music (plus, of course, some worry about this week's lessons, but I wouldn't be me without that!).

All done. As far as I know, everything went well.

Afterwards I went to the park and ran around the lake 5 times. It was a small lake but so beautiful. There were short trails veering off from the lake and I ran a few of them to vary the rounds. I'll go there again one day. It was really pretty.

Ellie, I'm glad you had a day at home, especially when the storm didn't materialize. It's a little bit like "sticking it to the man", right?! LOL!

Petra--exactly! And I did a lot of work for my poetry workshop.

Your run sounds lovely.

........... "Seasonal" book token's - when your birthday is shortly after Christmas they come thick and fast from those who know me well.

England
Sarah Hawkswood and Marked to Die

Shetland
Anne Cleeves and Dead Water - also does a good series 'Vera' in the North East

Norway
Anne Holt andI støv og aske .... when it's translated - last of the Hanne Wilhelmsen series.

Its International women's day ⚘Remembering back in the day the wonderful parades we organized. And its still two steps forward, one step back.

so what does this day mean by now, and how are you spending it?
I'm reading a YA novel that is surprisingly well written and well nuanced.
The Space Between Us by Jessica Martinez. i think she is someone to watch out for.

Ice, your list is beyond me but you may be interested to know about a book that is neither a mystery nor a thriller but autobiographical fiction. It also has a strong philosophical and feminist bent.

I am going to start a new thread for our recipes and thoughts on healing modalities. Ideally we can copy the relevant items and it can be a place to post recommendations and for discussion. I am curious about muscle testing.

There is something magical about walking around lakes. I must confess that 5 laps seems &huge, ive never done more than 2. There are many little lakes in this district tho so that may change. Today was enough to sit on bench and watch ducks.

Hope everyone is in fine fettle!




Ellie did you ever recover your files? Even worse than -- 30 would be such a big loss

Ice..Sorry I really was leading up to something there and its that the book i was referring to is called Land of Love and Ruins by Oddny Eir who writes about her native Iceland and how the world seems to a woman from that POV.

Magdelanye wrote: "Its International women's day ⚘Remembering back in the day the wonderful parades we organized. And its still two steps forward, one step back.

Thanks for asking--I recovered most of my files and was able to find some of the poems in emails. Some sadly are just gone but I'm grateful for what I found.

Thanks for reminding me about today--I can use it in my teaching! (something to read and write about).

I started Unmarriageable which is Pride and Prejudice set in modern day Pakistan. So far I'm loving it.

Last night was parent/teachers' night so I was at work until 8:00. I can't read or write--too many administrators walking around and besides I can't concentrate on anything outside work when I'm there. So I'm exhausted today. But I'm happy it's Friday.

I was extremely lucky and got an appointment for Monday at the Social Security office so I'm one step closer to retirement. Wish me luck--I have trouble dealing with these giant institutions!

Have a great international woman's day everyone!

Happy women’s day!!
I have the day off work to take my son to the doctors. Work had been insanely busy so I’m grateful for a bit of a break.
I would love a thread with healing modalities and recipes. Thanks!

Ellie I’m glad you were able to recover some of your work. How frustrating when technology fails.

I’m in the middle of reading the Paris seamstress. I’m burnt out on books set in the war but this one I’m enjoying.

I am reading the joy of missing out. I deleted twitter and Facebook and it was a bit sad to see how much I missed them. I’m into week 2 of no Facebook and it’s getting easier.

It’s cold and snowing here today and I am so done with winter.

I'm hearing good things about The Paris Seamstress....

I'm just about finished Golden Child... so far, I think there was just a bit too much hype on this book. Also it starts with 'an event' and it takes the entire book to get back to the event. Pace not fabulous... we'll see how it ends. I will be finished tonight for sure.

Next week I'm going on vacation and can't wait to rip through a pile of books!

Daisy Jones & The Six seems like a great beach book and A Train in Winter: An Extraordinary Story of Women, Friendship, and Resistance in Occupied France has been on my TBR for way too long, hopefully also get to a few more....
The Lost Man
The Quintland Sisters

Happy Women's Day!

We're still getting snowed on today. We had such a mild January, then February hit and the snow won't go away.

I'm a bit disappointed in a GR friend (who has now unfriended me and left a group I'm in) and disturbed at the situation that caused it. I, unfortunately, did take part in the "discussion" which he apparently took as a feminist attack, something I didn't even see as an issue in the "discussion".
Anyway, I'm disappointed that he left a group for a disagreement in outlook. I still don't see the "feminist attack" side of the "discussion"..... or any attack.
I just found out about this and hope it doesn't wreck my day. I'm feeling pretty badly about it because of my participation in the discussion he started. I must have missed some point of irritation and for that I'm sorry.
If only one had a crystal ball to know which discussions to take part in and which to walk away from before commenting. ……. but if no one commented he may likely have been annoyed at being ignored.
Sigh.

Ellie, I'm glad you have an appointment with Social Security. It'll give you some of the answers you need to move forward.

Beyond going until 8pm, how did the parent/teacher night go? I knew a couple of teachers years ago and remember them being stressed about this night.

I'm still reading and enjoying Red Mars. I wonder what we would really do if we were to one day send a group to Mars to colonize it. This story is bringing up some of the difficulties and choices that might be faced.

Petra wrote: "Happy Women's Day!

We're still getting snowed on today. We had such a mild January, then February hit and the snow won't go away.

I'm a bit disappointed in a GR friend (who has now unfriended me..."

I only had one parent show up in 3 hours! (and two for today's conference). Of course, there are only six students in my class (because of the severity of their disabilities it's a smaller ratio than general education). So, a lot of hours of waiting around. But luckily only one of the parents who came was combative. Sometimes they're the only ones who come!

I'm sorry about your friend and the group. It takes an awful lot for me to walk away from someone. Especially without it being clear (for both people) what the problem is. Sometimes I think we're just not forgiving enough of each other. That being said, I hope you can shake it off. Since he won't really discuss the issue, I hope you can let go of it and not let it spoil your day (which is probably over by now; I always forget the time difference).

Happy women's day to everyone,\.

Ellie, I'm glad that things went well. I hope the combative parent wasn't too "in your face".
Have a relaxing weekend. You deserve it.

I'm glad you got some of your writing back, too. That is truly good news.

Yes, I'm sad about the friend leaving the group. I would have preferred he let us know why he was upset.....I would have settled for knowing he was upset. That would have been nice. I'm not sure if it was one person's statement, more than one person's comment or the whole discussion that irked him.
However, upset as I am about something I consider unnecessary and hurtful, it was his decision. I'm sure he had his reasons. So, all is good, I suppose. I just wish he'd been more upfront.

I got a book package in the mail today:
Dissident Gardens
The Pure Gold Baby
The Children's Crusade

When am I going to have the time to read the books accumulating at my home?!!!!

Yay Ellie that you were able to retreive most of your poems. I usually have my orginal somewhere. Maybe you can reconstruct some of them? After all you wrote them!

O Petra that sounds like a flash nasty. I wonder why people cant seem to get along.

I will start the new thread asap, when im next on a computer. i think its a good idea for future reference. I also like the idea of playing with the different threads.
Do people know about the library? Our lovely librarian disappeared some years ago and its not complete by a long shot, but it has ther potential to be really useful, consisting of our favorite and important books.

Hope everyone had a celebratory day and snow has withdrawn, cold up to a tolerable level.

Magdelanye wrote: "Yay Ellie that you were able to retreive most of your poems. I usually have my orginal somewhere. Maybe you can reconstruct some of them? After all you wrote them!

O Petra that sounds like a flash..."

I'd love to know more about the library. Do you mean in this group? What a great collection that would be!

Ellie, Yes, well, it obviously has not been at all useful. i almost forgot about it myself because I cannot reliably access.
Remember the discussion on wedge books? And our lovely librarian Melissa?

I have never looked at the bookshelves in this group. I don't think I was aware that we had any books on it.

Magdelanye wrote: "Ellie, Yes, well, it obviously has not been at all useful. i almost forgot about it myself because I cannot reliably access.
Remember the discussion on wedge books? And our lovely librarian Melissa?"

I had completely forgotten about Melissa but now I remember her. I'm sorry she left.

i still miss Kinkajou and traveller and Her Royal Orangeness. But I am really happy with the organic way the group is expanding.

petra were you able to find it?

I do miss those others but I really like our current group.

waaa! I'd put this under whine and cheese but it belongs here....almost finished and taking a breather from the Sympathizer. i did not realize when i opened this what a knockout it is.
This one is very hard to witness..
How are the others?
Cold lifting?

Wet and windy - the equinox is looming ...... otherwise away from reality I am in Shetland, that also turns out to be fairly wet and windy !

Ice...wet and windy in Shetland! i havent a clue where that is. But there must be a pony!

Managed to finish The Sympathizer. It was an ordeal to witness but what a magnificent achievement. Now im starting heart berries which most of my gr friends love. Sadly i just read a contradictory review. i try not to actually read reviews beforehand but i guess now i have a gamut of reactions. It certainly starts strong.

Magdelanye, I've yet to read The Sympathizer. Sounds gut-wrenching. Heartberries is also high on my list to read.

Ice, Shetland sounds lovely. All your travels do. Keep having fun. I so enjoy your updates.

It's so mild here now. Next week is supposed to be almost summer-like. I'm making some plans for clean-up work in the garden. The air smells so fresh at the moment.

Magdelanye, did you mean did I find the bookshelf? Yes, I did. Did this group used to have group reads? There are interesting selections.

I'm still reading Red Mars and am getting tired of it. It just doesn't have enough action for such a long(ish) book.
I'm reading it as part of a sci-fi tournament (informal) that another group has put together. This month's books to vote between are Red Mars, Oryx & Crake and Dune. Red Mars comes out at the bottom, for my votes. I am leaning towards Dune as my choice for this month.

We have a mouse in the kitchen. Ugh! Poor thing! I'm sure it doesn't want to be here anymore than we want him. I keep hoping he'll go into the humane trap so that we can let him out in a field around the corner. He's scared, I know, but we do want him to live. How to let him know to go into the trap?
We've tried to lure him with peanut butter, a banana slice, whole grain bread (with lots of seeds) and now pieces of a peanutty granola bar. Everything is locked up. I don't know what he's eating.

Since I started going through all the cupboards looking for mouse signs, I'm cleaning and sorting them all out. I've taken 2 boxes of household items to the Thrift Shop. Better that someone use the items.